Which end is heavier

[Paul B]

As a general rule of thumb, for trailer loading purposes, which end of a Cub is the heaviest, front or rear? Or is there about the same amount of weight on either axle? I am talking about just a basic Cub with hydraulics and a drawbar.

[Bigdog]

Paul, I don't know for sure. I've loaded 2 cubs nose to nose, back to back and front to back. When loading 1 cub and a golf cart, I load the cub forward and the golf cart behind. I always figured the rear was heavier but then most of the time, that's because there were wheel weights or loaded tires on the back. My personal opinion is that the back is a little heavier than the front. But I have nothing to back that up.

[RedNed]

I would say the back too. The CG is pretty balanced. Put a driver on it, Oh yeah, the back...........

[Jim Becker]

When I experimented a bit, it turned out the CG was a couple inches ahead of the shaft the pedals mount on. As I recall, it was a bare tractor with hydraulics and standard drawbar, no wheel weights.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Don't know aobut without weights, but with them they are definitly heavier on the rear. I made a stnad that fits the rear pads and put a floor jack under the stand and lift the fornt.

[George Willer]

Don't know aobut without weights, but with them they are definitly heavier on the rear. I made a stnad that fits the rear pads and put a floor jack under the stand and lift the fornt.

John,

I think you are close to the method Jim used. Place a jack under different places and lift slightly. Experiment till you find a place that only one wheel maintains contact with the floor. Naturally this will work better with centerline tractors, but it should be true of Cubs too. Please don't lift very high!!!

Funny how this works out, but I think most tractors will balance not far from the shifter.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I thought mine would be cloe to balanced ther, but it was a lot heavier on the rear.

[Paul B]

Thanks guys. I always figured it would be about equal, if not nose heavy. Guess that is the automobile mentatility in me that thinks front engine, nose heavy.

[Jim Becker]

John,

I think you are close to the method Jim used. Place a jack under different places and lift slightly. Experiment till you find a place that only one wheel maintains contact with the floor. Naturally this will work better with centerline tractors, but it should be true of Cubs too. Please don't lift very high!!!

That was it. Surprising how quickly you can find the answer this way. I think I spent more time gathering up the jack and cribbing than I did finding the CG. You can just try jacking at various points along the bell housing until both ends of the tractor want to lift, then you are close. Of course, the tractor will want to lean right when you do it. Determining left-right location is left as an exercise for the student.

[George Willer]

Thanks guys. I always figured it would be about equal, if not nose heavy. Guess that is the automobile mentatility in me that thinks front engine, nose heavy.

Paul,

I'm pretty sure the difference in weigh distrbution front to back is even more to the rear in a Lo-Boy, since the rear wheels have been moved forward about 7".

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

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I'm pretty sure the difference in weigh distrbution front to back is even more to the rear in a Lo-Boy, since the rear wheels have been moved forward about 7".

I would have thought that would move the balance point toward the front. if it changed it at all. Since the weght still attaches at the same point, would it actually change it?

[Jim Becker]

[
I'm pretty sure the difference in weigh distrbution front to back is even more to the rear in a Lo-Boy, since the rear wheels have been moved forward about 7".

I would have thought that would move the balance point toward the front. if it changed it at all. Since the weght still attaches at the same point, would it actually change it?

It would move the CG forward relative to the bell housing, platform etc because the drop housings, wheels etc. move forward. HOWEVER, because the rear wheels move forward more than the CG does, the CG winds up closer to the rear axle, putting more weight on the back.